History of Global Christianity – CHHI 620

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course explores the historic expansion of global Christianity from the first century to the present day. Attention will be given to cultural contexts, key personalities, and movements that contributed to the spread and identity of global Christianity. (Cross-listed with GLST 620)

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

As the Christian movement was entrusted by the Lord to eleven Galilean fishermen, its expansion throughout the world down to the present day has been phenomenal given its humble origins. As the church of Jesus Christ is a missionary church, it is important that the student gain an appreciation of the circumstances, individuals, and strategies related to its expansion in history. Such a study will not only be inspiring but also instructive for ongoing missionary endeavors in the contemporary world.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 5 Discussions based on the textbook readings. The student must post a thread of at least 400 words and submit 2 replies of at least 100 words each to classmates’ threads. The student must include at least 3 citations in each thread and at least 1 citation in each reply. All citations must come from textbook readings and be formatted in current Turabian. (CLO: A, B, C)

Missionary Biography Paper Assignment

The student will write a 1200-word (5-page) biography on a missionary from Christian history after the New Testament period. Any missionary mentioned in the Tucker text is fine; for others, confer with the professor for approval. The paper must include the following elements: 1) An overview of their life and background 2) Their place(s) of ministry 3) Their theology of and approaches to mission 4) An evaluation of their mission work (strengths and weaknesses). At least 3 scholarly citations are required. The paper must adhere to the current Turabian format. (CLO: A, B, C)

Research Paper: Proposal Assignment

The student will complete a 1-page Research Paper Proposal that includes a topic, thesis, and a minimum of 6 scholarly sources. (CLO: A, B, C)

Research Paper: Final Submission Assignment

The student will write a 12–14-page paper in current Turabian format devoted to a theme in missions history. The cover page and bibliography must be separate from the page count. The student will include a minimum of 6 scholarly sources in this bibliography. (CLO: A, B, C)

Quizzes (4)

The student will complete 4 quizzes. Each quiz will be based on the Learn materials for the Modules: Weeks in which it is assigned. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, consist of 20 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, B)